Rep. Christopher S. Murphy, D-5th District, and his camp are not saying much about the sizable contributions that leading Democrats in Congress, lobbyists and special interests are making to his U.S. Senate campaign.

The Republican-American counted slightly more than $200,000 in individual contributions from lobbyists and other political professionals through mid-August, when the last campaign finance reports were filed. Murphy collected another $1 million from political committees at that time.

The Murphy campaign declined to spell out what these contributors can reasonably expect from Murphy in return for their important financial help should he prevail against Republican rival Linda McMahon, who is running a largely self-funded campaign. All campaign spokeswoman Taylor Lavender would say is that the three-term congressman will continue to fight to bring back good jobs to Connecticut and to protect the middle class.

The campaign also declined a request to interview Murphy for this story.

The McMahon and Murphy campaigns are increasingly taking issue with the sources of the other side's money now that the campaign is in full swing.

The financially outgunned Murphy campaign is pointing out how McMahon is funding her campaign from a fortune that she and her husband amassed from professional wrestling.

Meanwhile, McMahon is tracking how much Murphy is accepting from lobbyists, special interest groups and Democratic sources.

The Murphy campaign is telling voters that McMahon is trying to buy the open Senate seat with the profits made from a wrestling empire that sold sex and violence to children, degraded women and exploited professional wrestlers.

Lavender said McMahon is also spending a fortune to try to distract voters and hide how her business record includes laying off workers and outsourcing jobs.

McMahon is co-founder and the former CEO of WWE Inc., formerly known as World Wrestling Entertainment. She and her husband, Vince, reported earnings of $24.1 million in 2011.

Unlike Murphy, the deep-pocketed McMahon does not have to worry about fundraising. She can just write herself another check whenever her campaign needs cash, and she has a big checking account.

McMahon spent an eye-popping $50 million on her first Senate race two years ago. She personally ponied up $16 million leading up to her Aug. 14 primary victory over former U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays.

Her lopsided money edge also affords McMahon the luxury of being able pick apart the sources of Murphy's campaign finances while not having to face the same kind of scrutiny herself as a self-funded candidate.

McMahon and her campaign can question what Murphy contributors are going to get for their contributions.

"One of the biggest differences between Chris Murphy and Linda McMahon is when she gets elected she is not going to owe anything to anybody but the people of Connecticut," said Corry Bliss, McMahon's campaign manager.

The McMahon campaign just last Thursday slammed Murphy for raising money from Washington insiders at a D.C. fundraiser the night before.

A review of Murphy's finance reports found sizable contributions from leading Democrats in Congress and some of biggest names in congressional lobbying, business and industry and the labor movement.

The $1.2 million that Murphy collected from lobbyists and political committees represented one-fifth of the $5.6 million that he had raised through his Aug. 14 primary win over former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz.

The primary campaign consumed more than half that sum, though. Through mid-August, Democrats in Congress and other Democratic groups funneled $197,725 into Murphy's campaign through political action committees.

Bliss said these contributions will buy Murphy's blind loyalty to the Democratic leadership.

The lobbyists and other political pros who contributed to Murphy included high-powered players from such top lobbying firms as Quinn Gillespie & Associates, Ogilvy Government Relations, the Podesta Group, Williams & Jensen, Patton Boggs, and Holland & Knight.

Their client lists include businesses, trade associations, professional groups, unions and other interests that have contributed to Murphy through political action committees. Murphy received the most PAC contributions from organized labor. Unions gave $246,000 through mid-August.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the International Association of Machinists each contributed $20,000. Unions representing postal workers collectively gave $41,000.

Murphy also got nearly $189,000 from committees representing finance, insurance and real estate interests. The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors contributed to Murphy $18,000 alone. The Travelers Companies Inc. gave $10,000. The National Association of Realtors gave $9,980.

The American Medical Association provided $25,000. Other PACs representing other professionals and interests in the health care field contributed $66,630 more.

The costly primary campaign left Murphy needing all the cash that his campaign and backers can possibly squeeze from contributors, including Democratic sources, lobbyists and special interest groups.

Top Murphy donors

The U.S. Senate campaign of Rep. Christopher S. Murphy, D-5th District, accepted slightly more than $1.2 million from lobbyists, other political professionals, Democratic sources and political committees through mid-August. Committee contributions represented $1 million of that total. The committees represented businesses, trade associations, professional groups, leading Democrats in Congress, unions and other special interests. The top five committees collectively contributed $103,000 to Murphy.

" What can they expect for their payment? A politician in their pocket? duh. I know what we can expect. More votes for nanny programs. Move rubber stamping anything Obama puts before his face to sign. "

" Out of curiosity, what jobs is Congressman Murphy looking to "bring back" to the state? Are they the jobs previously held by the 23 million unemployed Americans that are suffering in large part by Congressman Murphy's record? Or are they part of the 12.9 million jobs that Americans have been laid off from since 2009 as a result of Congressman Murphy's record?

" So he will continue to fight to bring back good jobs and protect the middle class? Even if we were foolish enough to believe he actually tried, his record of failure to do just that after 3 terms in Congress speak for themselves.

Why would his record of failure get any better in the Senate where he would only have to concern himself about his record, and the voters every six years?

In Murphy clearly we have been investing our future in someone who either does not have the skills needed to produce positive results, or interest beyond election day, to deliver on his "promise". It's time for a change.

Kicking Murphy out of Washington, and back to CT looking for one of the good jobs he fought for in the private sector, would be a good way for all of us frustrated voters to take the first steps needed to start fixing what is wrong in Washington, as well as CT. "

" I have no problem with McMahon funding her own campaign. At least I know she can't be bought and will be owing to no one other then the voters of CT.

Murphy is a bought and paid for minion of the unions and Democrat party. He has NO loyalty to CT - just check his voting record, all of which is contrary to his constituency's wishes (note Obamacare, which 65% of us told him we didn't want, but he voted for it anyway).

Let's put him on the unemployment line so he can really see what it's like in CT! "

" McMahon isn't "self-funding" her own campaign. She's doing it with WWE profits she gained by exploiting women, the disabled and the talent that made she and Vince rich. As a potential freshman Republican, she'll be exploiting women's health and reproductive care. She'll be owing to the rest of the 1%... "

" You are all idiots if you think for one second either of these opportunistic sleaze balls will ever do anything for you or me. You think they know your name? You think any of these clowns care about your challenges on a day to day basis? Politicians are nothing more than legalized mafiosos, stop being so damn naive. You sound ignorant when defended any of these thugs "

" But....he can't balance a checkbook, stiffs a landlord for rent, misses mortgage payments often! Really? I'll never see 170,000 dollars in several years and i am fiscally responsible.The other one is so lowbrow What with the wrestling business and hearing about bankruptcy every two seconds. I don't think I'd be mentioning that as it only puts the burden on everyone else and makes one look irresponsible. So annoying. "

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